Colombia Heads to Presidential Runoff That Could Reshape Ties With Washington

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Colombia is headed for a deeply polarized presidential runoff after a first-round vote that left the country’s political establishment scrambling. Right-wing outsider Abelardo de la Espriella and leftist senator Iván Cepeda emerged as the top two candidates on Sunday, setting the stage for a June 21 contest that will not only decide the nation’s next leader but also redefine its relationship with the United States and other key partners.

With more than 99% of ballots tallied, de la Espriella captured 43.73% of the vote, falling short of the outright majority needed to avoid a runoff. Cepeda, representing the governing Historic Pact coalition, came in second with 40.91%. Democratic Center candidate Paloma Valencia trailed far behind at 6.92%, according to preliminary results from the National Civil Registry.

Valencia, the first woman to win her party’s presidential nomination — founded by former President Álvaro Uribe — quickly threw her support behind de la Espriella, warning against what she called the “new communism” spreading in the country. Her endorsement solidifies a conservative bloc that could prove decisive in the runoff.

Abelardo de la Espriella, 47, is a lawyer and businessman who has campaigned as a political outsider. He has openly praised U.S. President Donald Trump and drawn comparisons to El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele for his tough-on-crime rhetoric. His platform centers on security, law and order, and economic liberalization — promising lower taxes, expanded oil exploration, and a more confrontational stance toward criminal organizations. He has also pledged stronger security ties with the United States and Israel, and vowed to reverse what he calls the failures of outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s administration.

“We advanced to the runoff thanks to the more than 10 million Colombians who answered the roar. In 21 days, we will make history!” de la Espriella wrote on X after the results came in, adding that he would defeat “tyranny and absolutism.” He posted a celebratory video with his family at his campaign headquarters in Barranquilla.

Iván Cepeda, 63, a veteran left-wing politician and human rights advocate, enters the runoff as the standard-bearer of Petro’s coalition. The son of assassinated politician Manuel Cepeda Vargas, he spent years in human rights activism and was a key figure in peace negotiations with guerrilla groups. His campaign has focused on continuing Petro’s “total peace” strategy, social inclusion, agrarian reform, and what he describes as a “democratic revolution” to deepen progressive changes.

Cepeda has framed the election as a choice between preserving those reforms and returning to traditional political models. He argues that Petro’s administration expanded social protections despite institutional resistance, while critics point to sluggish economic growth and unfulfilled promises on healthcare and security.

The campaign has unfolded against a backdrop of rising political violence. In a grim reminder, presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay was shot at a campaign rally in June and later died of his injuries in August, underscoring the volatility that remains in Colombian politics despite the 2016 peace deal with the FARC.

Petro’s “total peace” policy — a strategy of negotiating simultaneous ceasefires with multiple armed groups — has become one of the most divisive issues. Supporters say it’s a necessary step to end decades of conflict; critics argue it emboldens criminal organizations and makes the country less safe.

The runoff outcome will also shape Colombia’s relationship with the United States, its closest security and economic ally. Petro’s ties with Trump were often rocky — especially over migration, counternarcotics, and regional diplomacy. In early 2025, the two leaders clashed over deportation flights, briefly sparking threats of sweeping tariffs before a rapid de-escalation. Petro later visited the White House in February 2026, agreeing to concessions on drug interdiction and cooperation against criminal networks.

Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine producer, and Washington’s counter-narcotics pressure will weigh heavily on the next president. Trump has not yet publicly weighed in on the Colombian race, but his administration is expected to pay close attention given Colombia’s strategic role in drug trafficking and migration flows.

The leading candidates offer sharply different visions: Cepeda advocates for a more independent foreign policy and greater Latin American integration, while de la Espriella and his allies call for closer alignment with Washington on security and economic matters.

With the runoff just weeks away, the race is widely seen as a referendum on Petro’s turbulent presidency — and a decision on whether Colombia will move further left or swing back toward the conservative right. The result will be closely watched not only in Bogotá but in Washington and across the hemisphere.

This is a developing story and has been updated.

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